Uhmm, you guys are a little off on memory frequency, at least according to the rumours (we might as well have something completely different coming :P).
Memory frequency for the 4870 is 2200 MHz. and thus 4400 MHz effective after taking DDR into account. The 4850 will have 1800 MHz, which means 3600 DDR. This is also the reason for the use of GDDR5, as GDDR5 also allows frequencies over 3 GHz (6 GHz effective (DDR)).

If history repeats itself, TSMC tapeout doesn't mean jack.

R600 was taped-out 6 months before Xbox360 was released but the actual card didn't materialized until a year later.

Come on AMD, make nVidia pay for resting on it's laurels for too long.

I've been ready to upgrage from my 8800GTS for months now, and I am ready and waiting for AMD to lure me back to the red team.

Is it 50% faster for RV770 one chip or R700? If it's the former, then OMFG.

man i hope ATI wins, because they dont like anyone out from crossfire. AKA i have a crossfire capable board :) (P35)
nvidia should die for locking people that want SLI into their mobos :( its questionable whether it makes good business since, and its just not nice :(

other than that i really don't care. if things keep going like they are now, i'll end up buying a single nVidia card and being sad that I cant run sli :)

Why RV770 why not R700? I thought they always first produced the monster chip for the high end cards. Then they reduce that chip (fewer pipelines or whatever), call it the RVxxx, and sell it in the mainstream products.

Wasn't there a rumor that both AMD and Intel are working on Hybrids CPU's that would change the architecture of how PC graphics and games are made? They'll be made to run Ray Tracing.

If Intel is going to release their hybrid chip later this year then AMD can't be too far behind. Wouldn't that make the RV770 the last graphics card we'll see from ATI?

Oh please let it be true. I want Crysis in all it's glory!

And I want it with a SINGLE videocard!

If nVidia uses GDDR3 and a 512bit bus, thats basically the same bandwidth as GDDR5 on a 256bit bus. The difference would be the 512bit bus costs a lot more.

I hope for ATI's sake that they've improved their core a lot because they probably wont have a memory advantage.

I hope ATI pick their game up a lot, AMD / ATI need some influx of $$$ and Nvidia is currently whipping them around the block BIG TIME.

I like competition and right now, between intel, nvidia and AMD/ATI - well AMD/ATI is bleeding bad.

Ati than AMD has consistantly dissapointed. I'll believe it when I see it.

i still hope that nvidia will blow the amd away with its next-gen coming in july

Why the fanboism in this thread?

I couldn't care less who puts out the faster video card in the market, as it'll spur competition, increase performance and lower prices.

We've been stuck at G80 level performance for almost 2 years now, and that's just sad.

A rejuvenated ati will wake up nvidia if all goes well.

Glad to see ATI appears to finally be back on track.

I'm sure it is 480 stream processors that perform like 800 of the previous generation stream processors.

I'll wait for the 240 stream processor variant.

nvidia sucks. ati rules. 'nuff said.

*hides 9600GT*

Better be June 2008 or earlier for the RV770 - IN HIGH VOLUME. By Fall, AMD/ATi will have nothing to gloat about. Any 'window of opportunity' vs nVidia's next-gen will be miniscule. Anyway, not a particularly good launch time, as Summer (in the Northern Hemisphere) is always a low point for computer-peripheral purchases.

It has 50% more shader so it will be 100% faster according to my fanboy mathematical equations.

Seriously though, doubling the TMUs may actually accomplish that with double the fillrate. Maybe us ATI guys can finally turn on AA 8x!

I can't wait.

It would be useful if people just skipped the 'effective clock' when referring to DDR and referred to throughput. Its makes the whole thing clearer anyway, especially when you're trying to compare say GDDR3 on a 512 bit bus and GDDR5 on a 256 bit bus (which is what I think its limited to if I read the whitepaper right)

Edit: Meant to reply to #5.

That's being way too optimistic, imo. Obviously since r600 they've probably (or hopefully) ironed out a few management/production/research processes across the board, but still… I'm skeptical.

Cue customary f.u.d. on "theinquirer" about ATI's next part wiping the floor with nVidia (this time for real, promise!) in 5..4..3..2..